Mr Wheeler – who was behind the successful Wollongong City Gallery show Steel City Sounds  - made the comments as he added his voice to the growing chorus of Humber roof-top bar supporters.

Publishing a copy of a letter he sent to Wollongong MP Noreen Hay, he said small bars and ‘‘indie’’ stores were making Wollongong more dynamic and vibrant.

‘‘Over the past decade or more some of our larger establishments have dropped their support for local music, adapting instead a focus on poker machines, karaoke and prerecorded dance music,’’ he said.

He said residents were tired of old drinking establishments which were ‘‘little more than meat markets frequented by cashed-up bogans whose primary goal on a Saturday night is to pre-fuel, hit the nightclubs and either provoke a fight or conquer a sexual desire (or both) sufficient enough to be able to regale their gym buddies with their tales of unsurpassed machismo the following morning’’.

He went on to say smaller indie venues were helping reflect the city’s desire to change its ‘‘insidious drinking culture’’.

‘‘I’m not sure if Humber were intending on supporting local live music or not, however a vibrant nightlife will result in more music venues,’’ he wrote on Facebook.

The city’s nightlife has been a hot topic in recent months, after the NSW government said there were too many licensed venues in the city.

Humber’s licence, which has been in the works for the past nine months, will be debated at a Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority public hearing early next month.

Late last year, Ms Hay called on all residents to share their views on licensed premises ahead of the ILGA forum.

She said she was a ‘‘staunch advocate of wine bars’’ but was concerned about the city’s past reputation for violent venues.

The public forum to decide whether Humber should get its licence will be held at Wollongong Art Gallery at 2pm on February 5.